Aube-Kubel earned a promotion to the Capitals' top line amid Oshie's injury.
Over the last three games, the Washington Capitals have managed critical wins, but at a high cost, losing three different key skaters to injury. The latest to join that list is T.J. Oshie, who had to be helped off the ice after suffering a non-contact injury in Thursday's win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. As a result, the Capitals had to make some more changes.
Washington changed its top line mid-game against Tampa, breaking up Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome and placing the captain with Connor McMichael while Strome went to operate with Anthony Mantha. With Oshie out, Ovechkin and McMichael had Nicolas Aube-Kubel on the right wing.
"We're still sorting through it, but I think with Kube and coming back into the lineup, I thought he had a real strong game... there were a lot of wall plays, some forecheck battles, good puck decisions. I think as T.J. comes out of the lineup, right winger that can potentially move up," Carbery said of Aube-Kubel, who scored a goal against the Lightning in his firs game back after a series of healthy scratches.
Carbery also said there's a "good chance" that Pierrick Dubé can draw into the mix and make his NHL debut. Dubé was recalled after Nic Dowd suffered a day-to-day upper-body injury, as it gave the team another option at wing with Aliaksei Protas shifting to take on Dowd's center role.
Dubé leads the Bears with 24 goals through 50 games this season and signed his entry-level contract in July.
Hendrix Lapierre has also been recalled from Hershey amid Oshie's injury, giving the team another reliable young forward option. He can play both center and wing and provides a lot of versatility, and he has appeared in 25 NHL games this season and knows the team's systems.
Washington faces the Florida Panthers at 6 p.m. ET and sits five points out of a playoff spot.
Here are the projected line combinations:
Alex Ovechkin-Connor McMichael-Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Anthony Mantha-Dylan Strome-Tom Wilson
Max Pacioretty-Mike Sgarbossa-Sonny Milano
Beck Malenstyn-Aliaksei Protas-Pierrick Dubé
Trevor van Riemsdyk-John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin-Nick Jensen
Joel Edmundson-Alex Alexeyev
Charlie Lindgren
Darcy Kuemper